Workmen's advocate., 1887-03-26
A LONDON LETTER
A LIVELY SOCIALIST AGlTA-
 TON IN OLD ENGLEND.
St. Paul's Cathedral Filled With So. cialists = Feeding Poor Children. Edinburgh and Glasgow Have Demonstrations.
 Wales Attacked.

LONDON, March ?. The parade of the Social Democratic Federation at St. Paurs Cathedral on Sunday last was in every respect a magnih- cent success. The 24 branches of the $. D. F. in London were arranged in six contingents to start from six different parts of the metropolis. They marched up in most orderly manner, each contingent falling into its place before the next arrival. One of the most interesting features of the proceedings was the march ing into the Cathedral of several hundred of the poorest children from Clerkenwcll, who had in the morning received a free breakfast gwen them by the local branch. In front of the large entrance to the Cathedral is q statue of Queen Anne. This was completely enveloped in a mass of red, the contingsnts as they arrived nMcing their Hugs and ban
 ners against the ralllngs of the statue. When three of the contin. gents had come it became evident that the Cathedral would not hold the thousands who had taken part in the parade. The interior of the building which holds about 5000 people. was .crammed to excess. Those who came after were com pelled to remain outside, and they thronged the. whole of St. Paul's church yard. and stretched far down Ludgate Hill. There could not have been less than sixty or seventy thousand persons present. When it was found that the Cathedral could hold no more, several of the clergy and choir appeared on the steps and conducted a short service. This is the first time that an open air ser vice has been held at St. Paul's. When the clergy withdrew to the. Ca
 thedral, word was given to go to the Thomas Embankment. Two of the contingents fell into line and march, ed away, several thousand of the crowd following them. At the, Elm bankment. three separate meetings were held, the principal speakers be- ing Edward Morris, George Bate man, John Burns, John Fielding and John. Ward. At each of the meetings resolutions were passed amid great enthusiasm urging the necessity of organizing the labor of the unemployed on useful work and candemning the celebration of the Queens Jubilee. Hearty cheers were given for the "Social Revolution" ," and for our German comrades who have shown such energy at the cleo tions. During this time the usual service was being carried on inside the Cathedral. Expressions of ap- proval or dissent were given from time to time as Archbishop Clifford, the preacher, proeeededwith his ser mon. When, however, he told them that "The poor .ye have with you always a perfect storm of disap- proyal followed. At the conclusion of the service the procession re- formed and proceeded homeward. Several minor meetings were held by the contingents in various parts of London. The Walwarth Branch was attacked by the police as they were marching homewards, and scrimmage took place which nearly resulted in serious disturbance. The police ultimately broke mp the procession, seized the banner the Socialists were carrying and knocked several persons about. On Monday one of our most active comrades, both as speaker and an organizer, F. McGowran, was arrested on warrant charged with having in- jured constable. Of these charges he is entirely innocent, and the po- lice have sworn falsely in order to have their revenge on him, as he has from time to time given them a